Masonic Lodge closes after 102 years
The Peninsula's Masonic Lodge held its final meeting on February 26.
Lodge Morning Star closed in its 103rd year, as one of the Peninsula's longest continuous community-based service organisations.
As its final charitable act, it donated the $6000 of funds remaining upon closing to Mary Mac's Place and Shirley's Shuttle.
A hand-over was held at Woy Woy Wharf, with Ms Barb Galvin from Shirley's Shuttle and Ms Sally Baker from Mary Mac's Place.
Pictured are Mr Steve Sullivan, Ms Galvin, Mr Geoff Bown, Ms Baker and Mr David Leabeater.
Lodge Morning Star was consecrated as Lodge Morning Star Temperance No 410 at Woy Woy on February 4, 1922, in the old Presbyterian Church Hall.
The charter was granted with the proviso that the Tyler made frequent patrols around the outside of the hall.
Due to the area being flood prone, the hall was built on stilts.
It was felt that there was a risk that intruders could hide beneath the hall and listen to the "secret" meetings.
In those early days, with no roads in or out of the district, no electricity or piped water, some original members travelled to meetings by small boat via the waterways.
To make this easier, meetings were organised on the Monday nearest the full moon, allowing the trip across open water to be made safer, travelling home by moonlight.
Rehearsal meetings were held in the produce store of one of the past masters, with bales of hay and bags of wheat used as furniture.
Lodge Morning Star moved into the Woy Woy Masonic Hall built by Mr Albert Josephson (in Railway St, opposite the station) in 1926.
In June 2005, it relocated to the Gosford Masonic Centre which was in William St until February 2016 when it moved to Mann St.
As it was originally established in Woy Woy, the lodge's charity work was focussed largely on the Peninsula.
From the beginning, Lodge Morning Star was inextricably involved in the development of the Peninsula.
It gave service to the community with members involved in local government, including as shire presidents and mayors.
Others were postmasters, fire fighters, bus company proprietors and owners of an assortment of businesses.
They included such men as Mr Charles J Staples, Mr Don Leggett, Mr Bill Bullion, Mr James Morris, Mr Rod Radford, Mr Arthur Young, Mr Hubert Charles (HC) Margin, Mr Albert Josephson, and Mr Eric and Mr Rupert Riley.
Members have long been heavily involved in the Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club, with some filling the role of president.
The lodge provided five shire presidents in the three shires which held oversight of the Peninsula over the past 100 years: Erina (until August 1928), Woy Woy (1928-46) and Gosford Shire (from 1947).
Three members captained the Woy Woy fire services from its inception in 1934 until the 1980s.
SOURCE:
Media release, 28 Feb 2024
Ray Benton, Lodge Morning Star
Magazine, June 2022
Freemason